Rumsfeld: Delay Makes War More Likely

Published 7:00 pm, Friday, February 7, 2003

AP Military Writer

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld cautioned European allies who favor giving U.N. inspectors more time in Iraq that delay "could well make war more likely, not less."

In a speech Saturday to the 39th Munich Conference on Security, Rumsfeld argued that the world already has seen all the evidence it needs to conclude that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has no intention of cooperating with the U.N. Security Council resolutions requiring his full disarmament.

As Rumsfeld spoke, thousands more American forces were converging on the Persian Gulf region in anticipation of a decision by President Bush within days or weeks to invade Iraq and depose Saddam.

The next report to the Security Council by U.N. inspectors is scheduled for Feb. 14.

"We all hope for a peaceful resolution," Rumsfeld said. "But the one chance for a peaceful resolution is to make clear that free nations are prepared to use force if necessary _ that the world is united and, while reluctant, is willing to act.

"There are those who counsel that we should delay preparations," he added, referring to Germany and France without mentioning them by name. "Ironically, that approach could well make war more likely, not less, because delaying preparations sends a signal of uncertainty instead of a signal of resolve."

In response to Rumsfeld's remarks, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer made an impassioned plea for patience with Iraq and said the German public simply sees no justification for going to war.

"We must not accept the logic of a military campaign," Fischer said. "We must give the inspectors more time."

Sergei Ivanov, the Russian defense minister whose government opposes early military action against Iraq, told the conference the main focus should be on fighting international terrorism of all kinds.

In his prepared remarks, Ivanov did not refer to Iraq but echoed a theme often mentioned by Rumsfeld _ that the biggest threat is terrorist groups getting their hands on weapons of mass destruction.

The split between the United States, Britain and numerous other European countries on the one hand and Germany, France and Russia on the other has caused severe strains in relations among the allies. While acknowledging the differences, Rumsfeld told the Munich conference that the debate is healthy.

On the other hand, Rumsfeld left no doubt that Bush is prepared to act soon, regardless of what others may say. He referred to Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation to the U.N. Security Council last Wednesday and said it provided "not conjecture but facts" on the Iraqi threat.

"It is difficult to believe there still could be any question in the minds of reasonable people open to the facts before them," Rumsfeld said. "The threat is there to see. … Really the only question remaining is: what will we do about it?"

He concluded his speech by saying, "The coming days and weeks will tell."

Rumsfeld also blasted the United Nations for making Iraq the head of the U.N. Commission on Disarmament and Libya the head of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.

"An institution that, with the support or acquiescence of many of the nations represented in this room, would permit" this to happen "seems not to be even struggling to regain credibility," he said with a tone of incredulity.

"That these acts of irresponsibility could happen now, at this moment in history, is breathtaking."

Fischer, whose government won election to power last year on a campaign position opposing war in Iraq, told the Munich conference that the world should be focused on completing the war in Afghanistan and the battle against Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network rather than on Iraq.

He said all agree that Saddam's regime is repressive. "But does that justify setting this priority" of going to war now? "I'm not convinced."

The Munich conference, held each year in this Bavarian city, draws government officials, military leaders and security experts from around the world. Among the other speakers at this weekend's session are Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., German Defense Minister Peter Struck and Iran's deputy foreign minister for international and legal affairs, Gholamali Khoshroo.